Pablo Casado, who served as the party’s communications vice-secretary and was also chief of staff to the former prime minister José María Aznar, was elected in a poll of PP members on Saturday.

He saw off a challenge from the more moderate former deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, winning 57.2% of the vote to her 42%.

Casado, 37, said he would not disappoint those who had backed him.

“Today, a new and ambitious stage in our future has begun,” he said after his victory. “The PP will try to win back the hearts of all Spaniards. We need to return to the core of Spanish society so that our work cannot be undone.”